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Back To The Top – Terry Donoghue rounds off underage career with Irish title #11


The Irish Under-18 Open Championships in January was quite a peculiar tournament.

Peculiar in the sense that, for a tournament that featured Terry Donoghue, Terry Donoghue was not the champion in his weight class.

Last year’s Under-18 light flyweight champion had moved up to flyweight and was defeated in his opening bout by Kian Bittles.

However, six months on and Donoghue was back where he belongs – at the top of the podium.

The St Michael’s Athy stylist defeated Danny Duffy of Immaculata Strabane, winning an entertaining unanimous decision to claim the Irish U-18 title – his eleventh national championship overall.

Delighted to get back to the top, Donoghue told Irish-Boxing.com after his bout on Friday night that “I was focused to get back and win an Irish title.”

Analysing the fight, the European Junior silver medallist described how “I fought really well tonight. It was very close but I thought I won every round, I outboxed him and I thought I did good enough to win.”

“The uppercuts, the left uppercut, it worked every time.”

“I feel stronger at 52kg now, I was able to push him back.”

The Under-18 Open in January acted as the qualifier for the European Championships in April – which acted as the qualifier for next months World Championships – meaning that Donoghue is somewhat in limbo.

Just turned 18, the Kildare fighter is keen to get into the adult ranks next year where his elusive style will benefit from the lack of headgear.

Outlining his plans, Donoghue said that “I’ll be at a few of the box cups.”

“I’ll be better off without the headgear.”

Kildare Boxing is proudly supported by Liffey Crane Hire

Photo Credit: National Stadium Boxing Videos

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Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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